Invasion of the locusts

A PLAGUE of locusts is infesting much of Central Asia and parts of Russia. It is believed to have originated in Kazakhstan. Over the past few weeks, the flying insects have advanced like a moving carpet over huge areas of land, devouring all vegetation. Such an onslaught has not been seen for decades. The locusts have swamped Astana, the Kazakh capital, making the roads slippery with their crushed bodies and invading houses and shops. People were told to stay indoors while the streets were sprayed with chemicals

About 1.5m hectares (nearly 4m acres) of land in Russia have been hit by the plague, particularly in areas close to the Kazakh border. The central Siberian region of Novosibirsk declared a state of emergency this month. Russia's prime minister, Sergei Stepashin, said that the explosion of a Russian rocket over Kazakhstan on July 5th, which set off a political quarrel between the two countries, was a minor problem compared with the locust invasion. In Uzbekistan, locusts are said to have damaged crops over a 330,000-hectare area.

The Kazakh government has been accused of reacting slowly to the plague, which is reported to have started in the Pavlodar region, in the northern part of the country. But the problem stems from the poor state of Kazakhstan's agriculture, which has declined since the country became independent on the break-up of the Soviet Union. Private farmers cannot afford to buy pesticides and fertilisers. Their equipment dates back to the Soviet era, and much of it is no longer usable. Many farmers have simply abandoned their land. Some 20m hectares are estimated to have been deserted; only 12m are under cultivation. The untended fields and the warm and dry summer have combined to provide a splendid breeding-ground for the swarms of locusts.

The immediate outlook is not encouraging. The Kazakh government, having bought pesticides, is treating almost 2m hectares of affected land. Not enough, say the experts. At least 6m hectares need to be treated if Central Asia and Russia are to be spared another attack of locusts next year.

Already signed up or a subscriber? Log in

You’ve reached your article limit

Sign up to keep reading or subscribe now to get full access to The Economist via print, online and our apps.